LDS Church History Symposium presenter tells of 'Global Pioneers in Church Education'

Seminary students visit Sherwood Forest in England in 1969. Casey Griffiths referenced this photo as part of his presentation on "Global Pioneers in Church Education" at the Church History Symposium last week at the Conference Center Little Theater.

Provided by John M. Madsen

Summary

Casey Griffiths recounted the history of the Church Education System around the world at the Church History Symposium last week.

In the summer of 1968, 29-year-old John M. Madsen was the first teacher selected to go to England and establish a seminary program for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although fairly new as a seminary teacher, Madsen viewed the assignment as a dream job.

"There was a sense of adventure, and in a very real way, a kind of pioneering feeling. It really touched my heart deeply that we should be privileged to be involved with this great work, and that's how we felt," Madsen said later of the experience. "It was a sacred privilege, a sacred trust."

William E. Berrett, then the head of LDS Church Religious Education, accompanied the Madsens to England to meet with local priesthood leaders and introduce the new program. Before he left, Berrett turned to Madsen, a future member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, and told him success in this assignment was vital to the future of the church.

"The future success of the educational program of the church rests squarely on the reception of this program by the leadership of the British Isles," Berrett told Madsen. "If you fail in this mission, we will set the church back at least 10 years."

After sharing this account, Casey Griffiths said what many were probably thinking of Madsen's charge: "No pressure."

Griffiths, an instructional designer for Seminaries and Institutes and an adjunct professor of LDS Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University, shared the ancedote as part of his presentation, "Global Pioneers in Church Education," at the Church History Symposium at the Conference Center Little Theater on March 7.

Over the course of about 20 minutes, Griffiths summarized the historic expansion of the LDS Church Education System into countries around the globe with the help of PowerPoint slides.

The seminary program was first established at Granite High School in Salt Lake City in 1912 and with time expanded throughout the Intermountain West.

The earliest documented request for Mormon seminary and institute programs outside this area came in a letter from Brisbane, Australia, in 1961. Church leaders consider the request but decided the timing was not yet right.

Around that same time, Berrett began to receive similar requests from members around the world, including one American serviceman in Germany who wrote, "HELP! ... My immediate charge is to get religious education off the ground here in the Frankfurt area this fall. ... So ... HELP!"

In order to meet the needs of international membership, church leaders felt the need to develop new curriculum, including a home-study program. This new program, designed to operate among smaller groups of Latter-day Saints, was piloted in Iowa under the supervision of Donald R. Bond.

When declared successful, Madsen was sent to England in 1968. The British saints were so enthusiastic and supportive that classes were organized within two weeks, Griffiths said.

Seminary then moved into English-speaking nations, including Australia (J.L. Jaussi, 1968) and New Zealand (Rhett James, 1969).

Griffiths said Arnold's departing instructions were brief. When he asked for instructions, Berrett replied, "Well, go down and start seminary, and use the Book of Mormon, of course." When Arnold pressed for more details, Berrett answered, "Just go down and do what needs to be done. We won't leave you stranded."

"That was the end of the interview," Arnold said. "That was the total orientation I had about Latin America seminary."

Popular Comments

I had the privilege of serving under Robert B. Arnold when he presided over the
Guatemala-El Salvador mission. He was a deeply good man and blessed the lives of
many, myself included, and was there to help begin a great and noble work that
continues
More..

5:59 a.m. March 15, 2014

Top comment

Bob Pomeroy

Bisbee, AZ

To say nothing of the incredible contributions of Harvey L Taylor who was such a
pioneer he seems lost to history.

10:25 a.m. March 15, 2014

Top comment

John Pack Lambert of Michigan

Ypsilanti, MI

Part of me wishes that the "use local brethren as leaders" policy would
be applied here in Michigan, and they would end the practice of sending people
from the west to work as CES coordinators.